Chapter 9 – Petunia, and my elves.
A/N: Thank you everyone continuing with the story, I hope this chapter makes the plot more stable as it moves into a major event stage and enters to HBP side of things.
I hope this is a good character interaction and larger piece of dialogue, let me know if this good and a few big pieces like this should be added more, and that Harry has grown in size, strength, and stature from becoming physically healthier and magically stronger. Please enjoy, next chapter should be out in a day and a half at least.
Disclaimer: I obviously don't own HP; the right retains to JK Rowling.
Harry POV:
In the morning, I put away the photographs moving in the frames still on my bed after I fell asleep from last night. The faces of Sirius and my parents smiling up to me till I feel asleep must have made me feel safe as it was one of the most peaceful nights since Sirius had died. I then gave Hedwig a stroke and went to get showered and dressed before breakfast. Coming downstairs I made a bowl of cereal and a rasher of bacon for Hedwig for her work yesterday, came back upstairs and started looking at my mam's trunk she had left me. I ate and wondered all the while what she might have left in there.
Knowing I could only find out I opened the trunk and saw a few compartments, let me explain something real quick. In a trunk there is obviously the space it holds inside to hold whatever you want, but for a wizard trunk like this there are compartments, magically stretched to get whatever you want out off them. Normal ones like a first year Hogwarts trunk, like mine in the corner, held the basic ones like parchment and ink bottle storage, clothes storage ones, potion ingredient storage and even a massive one for books. Other ones including the compartments being like room big kind of compartments. Like my mam's having a few ones including rooms for a library, training room, kitchen, and bedrooms, even a small living room. I saw a pile of books and letters on a bed in one room, in a large glass incubator by the wall, in there sat these different sized eggs, one a huge and bulky, another two medium sized just smaller than an ostrich kind and another smaller one at the size of a large light bulb.
I wanted to go over to them and check them out, see what they could be as I wondered if they were all for me, but I decided the letters would explain, and they were saw they were from Mam! Reaching across the bed as I sat close to the eggs, I saw four letters, two addressed to me and one addressed to 'my sons' wife.' Realising it wasn't for me I let that one down and looked at the other, again addressed to me for, 'after the war ends', I looked at them in confusion, how had my mother known to write these, never mind store them here in her trunk, at her own vault? I opened the one from the top first, thinking she likely stacked them in order, with the amount of detail she had already went through.
To my dear son Hadrian.,
As I write these letters for you my heart breaks and my eyes won't stop crying, knowing I will never get to see you grow up and do so many things, great things in this world of ours, and the bad things to befall you after I am gone. I won't get to see you have experiences, like your first Hogwarts letter or your favourite movie, to see you learn the magic that is inside you or fall in love or even to choose what to do with your life. But yes, Harry, I did see what happens to us as a family.
I want you to know me and your father have loved you so much since we knew we were waiting for you and cherished every moment we had with you till the moment we knew it was time to go. I'm sorry we're both not there to explain things to you and help you grow, mature, and make decisions. This was the only choice we had. I won't waste parchment, but it has all to do with the prophecy you're involved in, like it or not as we don't, the one Dumbledore received and now Voldemort we believe. I know you will have many questions, but the answers are only those I can give right now.
First, I have what some say are seer gifts but what I call, extensive intuition. Call it fate or what you will but sometimes things are predestined, like your love life, I can see a glimpse of a girl with brown bushy hair and another with blue eyes and a wicked grin. I like them, who they are I don't know but I see they do care for you, or I wouldn't have seen what I was looking for. Secondly, this war. I know it won't end and that me and your father will only buy you time, but we are happy to give it, so long as you remember who you are when you grow up. You need to understand that war comes at a price for everyone and it must be paid, it cannot be won against killers with simple stunners and disarming spells. Thirdly, I can see Dumbledore giving you to my sister, I'm sorry my sweet boy I hope you know we never wanted you to go through what she and her husband will do to you, we have tried to do everything we can do, to stop this. I never told your father, but I know it won't stop what will happen. All I can say is I'm sorry and we love you, but you have to be strong and don't let it break you, make it help you be stronger. With that, your dad wants you to prank Dumbledore and my dreadful sister as you see fit, we won't even get mad I promise. The last thing you should know, what everyone else doesn't know is that my family has come from squibs and has the last magical blood of some ancient families long thought dead. Use this as I say when the right time comes.
Next is why you're here, in this room with the eggs and what to do. The answer is simple, train and be as strong as you can be against what you face. Me and your father aren't sure how Voldemort will return but we know if he can do that, he has strong Dark magic. This trunk should provide you the space to train, learn and hopefully be a refuge till you get away from my sister. The eggs aren't all yours, I don't know whos' they are but the owners will be important to you somehow, they will only open at the right time, I'm sensing won't be till after you read this but before you get the trunk, the confusion will soon past and you will understand. All I can say is remember your past, and don't forget to change what you don't like as you grow. Leave this trunk in your own trunk Harry it will be much better protected, then add the family magic to secure them both, add a drop of blood is all you need to do.
Another thing is the books and the journals, learn and read everything Harry, even when you choose you don't want to or don't like it, your memory is near perfect and could end up using information years ago you learned to survive. I'm using my memory now to picture you as you read this, you're 16 now and your birthday just past. Am I right? Oh, how it hurts knowing all this, but Happy Birthday my baby boy, I left this years' birthday gift on the table side I hope it's' useful and the other Christmas and Birthday gifts are under a tree in the sitting room, open them only for each year I mean it! You'll understand I promise in about 5-6 months, I think. If not, then go ahead. The other books and journals should interest you in the different subjects, my journals contain my own notes of the years at Hogwarts and some spells and runes I think should work. They may help you change this world or may already be used by then I can't be sure. I suggest going through the most complex defensive charms and offensive spells.
Lastly, this isn't everything to learn and train, remember your vaults and what is in and the gold to buy whatever you need. I saw flashes of what you've been through and some to come of yet but now you have some power to fight back, and more later on. Remember those who are true to you, count on these friends and don't lose hope when or if anything seems dark or lost. Remember not all dark magic is evil and not all light magic is good, I wouldn't have been able to save you with the sacrificial ritual I will be preforming when it is time, I hope that answers how and why you were survived, my baby, the blood ritual preformed on the Olde holiday, Samhain made it so the Lord would never be able to touch you. Read the second letter after the eggs hatch. Remember I will always be on the other side, guiding and helping you as best I and your father can.
I can't ever fit everything I want to say to you Hadrian, only what I need to on this parchment, but know everything I want to say you already know in your heart, my strong handsome man, I will always be proud of you, everything I you never got to hear me say in all in your mind, remember and the memories will come. I know you're wondering why you and how can you have the power to stop Voldemort, and the answer is the power is already inside you, that is why it must be you and I have faith you will prove it and win. I love you, and your father loves you.
With all my heart
Mam
I looked up from the letter, my eyes soaked. The tears falling to the floor as I made sure they couldn't hit the words from my mother. She had seen some of this and had it all planned out. She really was the greatest witch of her time. She really did love me. It wasn't just a joke or well thought out piece of revenge, this was her writing and her words to me. I looked at the eggs and wonder when they may hatch but felt no stirring of my magic at them, maybe as she said, they were supposed to be born already but not till after I read the letter. Utterly confused as my mam had guessed, I reread the letter and looked towards the books instead. They were all interesting, including subjects like; spell-making, ancient and modern runes, arithmancy, healing, warding and even elemental magic. Then there were some boring ones like on law, society, and heritage books, with some to add on family magics. It was a lot to read, but it would pass the time and help me eventually like I was told. I caught my eye on a wrapped present I knew was mine, who else's? I reached over and grabbed it holding it for a second as it was my first present I could remember from my parents. Tearing open the paper, I saw two beautiful silver charms of a stag and lily flower, with one word engraved on each the stag, "Proud" while the lily, "Loved" I smiled and joined them together close on my bracelet. It was perfect. A note fell from the paper as I added them, telling me it was my 16th present from Mam and Dad, explaining the stag would glow slightly if I were near any dementors, and the lily would buzz softly if someone lied directly to me. My eyes brimmed with a few tears again.
I took the books and journals and left the eggs for now, I had some reading to do before maybe, some training, I left the room and other presents like I was told in the sitting room and came back into my room at Privet Drive. I then grabbed my wand and shrunk my mothers trunk and entered for the first time my beautiful masterpiece of a trunk. The white wood and black leather complimented each other but looked dreadfully out of place in my room. I went inside and explored, making the books follow behind me. I gave myself the tour finding where everything was like the empty library for now, the bedrooms, and basically common room of a living room, and the empty herbology greenhouse and potions storeroom. Guess I had some buying to do, eventually, at least the house was furnished a bit though. Leaving my books inside, I came back out and went downstairs.
In the empty house I saw Petunia making some dinner in the kitchen, and as I approached, I remember how my mother knew how she treated me, I walked up and said, "Aunt Petunia, I'm doing a large amount of schoolwork in my room I should be in there for most of the next few days, can I take some food up there?" I asked nicely, already knowing the answer but gave the opportunity, nonetheless. She would have said no without looking up, but the clear difference in my voice must have been noticed, she looked up and again froze as she took in my new features I had been hiding. Those metamorphosis abilities were really coming along. I saw her look at my new clothes and hair, as well as my face as it looked older and more defined. She looked into my eyes though and I saw the usual glace at the recognition in them, she still saw her sister in them I guessed. She then stiffened and replied with a no, already going back to the dinner she was preparing. I wasn't done though as I asked her a simple question, I knew would always get me into trouble and a long speech from my childhood; "Why?" She then turned back round to me, anger blazing in her eyes as if she knew I asked it on purpose.
"Because I said no, you ungrateful little brat, daring to question me in my own house you best not be hungry for a week and hope I don't add another for that look on your face!" She finished, the smirk on my face clearly getting to her as she thought I'd be worried at losing the week worth of food. I could laugh I really didn't care, but I stopped myself.
"Now are you sure about that Aunt Petunia, it was only a question. Like can't you or better yet Dudley wash the dishes from now on?" I knew this would rile her up, mentioning Dudley doing housework. Her anger was viable in the veins on her neck.
"How dare you want Dudley to do your work in this house! We feed you, keep the roof over your head and give you clothes to use all for your own sake and not ours, yet you keep that disgusting attitude up, I have had enough your Uncle will hear about this. You will be lucky to even get the cupboard back under the stairs!" She yelled, pointing her finger at the door to the staircase. Keeping my emotions in check including my rage and laughter I looked at her after looking at the door.
"Do you really Aunt Petunia? Or do you accept money from my headmaster to keep me? Does he know you beat or starve me and barely give me any clothes that fit me?" I asked, this time without any respect, my words harsh and cruel as my relatives to me. My Aunt actually dropped her spoon, she was holding.
"Leave my sight," She began, "Or else you will never leave this house again, as if we would ever accept money even to keep you, a dirty good for nothing evil on this world, like your father. We keep you alive, don't we? Be grateful we didn't leave you on the street the morning you came here. I should have called social services there and then." She shook as the anger gripped her skinny frame, sometimes I thought she was starved like me with the two fat walruses taking everything they saw on the dinner table. I listened to her words though, insulting my dad as always but never my mom, it was like she didn't want to know her sister and definitely not when she was attacking me.
"Keep me alive? Is this what it is? Tell me Aunt Petunia would my mother call this being alive?" I began asking her, watching her flinch at the mention of my mam. I continued, "Would she like the way you treat me? How do you think she will look at you when you next see her? Or what she will say or do?" I would have continued, but I wasn't sure if she were furious or devastated, her body shook like it wanted to cry but the ferociousness in her eyes stopped any tears from falling.
"Don't you dare mention your mother to me," She forced out, looking in pain, "She was nothing but a freak in the family and you are no better, I wish you went with her that night." There it was, the only solid bit of truth that was hiding in this family for so long, she really hated me. It still hurt a bit that they never changed their opinion or treatment of me, but I had better things to worry about then their love.
"Wow Aunty, I wonder what Nana and Granddad will say to that when you see them next." She paused for a second at the mention of her own parents, a guilty look on her face, I continued on to hit her where it hurts. "Just imagine how they and my mam and dad feel watching the way you've hurt me and used me over these past sixteen years, imagine how you would feel if dear Dudley were in my place, and treated like you treat any dirt coming into the house. I'm sure whatever they will never forgive you, in this life or the next." I paused breathing. "You will die alone one day, unlike my parents did, Uncle Vernon will have already died, and Dudley will have left you to suffer in an old home, and you will cry, hoping you still had a friend or someone to call family to keep you company before you go. I hope that day doesn't come for a long time, but I hope the pain of abandonment and loneliness hits you soon. Things are going to change here and now Petunia, you tell Vernon and Dudley if I hear one more utterance of the word freak or feel threatened, the magic will be coming out, understand?" I finished, her face whitened, at what part of my little speech I was unsure, but it had clearly worked at least until she opened her mouth.
"You insolent little shit," She went to slap me, and for the sake of it I let her, it would be the very last time as the sting bit into my cheek and the echo sounded the kitchen. "How dare you think your mother could raise you better than I have. How dare you mention my parents, they are dead because of your mother and father. If I hear you speak of them again, I will lock you in that cupboard till you cry for food and release. Threatening me with magic, who do you think you are? Just wait till your Uncle gets home then see how magical you think you can be outside of your silly school." 'Bingo,' I thought, while she continued. Time to show her.
"I hope they all saw that Aunt Petunia your nothing but a sad old woman who hurts her own nephew. That's who I think I am Aunty, your nephew and I just wish I could see what my mam and dad could do to you right now, never mind my grandparents on both sides." I paused, using my finger to contaminate the lasagne she was about to cook. She flinched at my words or finger moving in the food, I'll never know, I continued looking her in the eyes as she turned hers back to me. "Put as for me, well I'm a god damn Lord of my family house in the magical world, that still includes you. I didn't threaten you Aunty, it was a statement, I am now though. Touch me again, and I will live just to make your life hell, understand?" I finished using some wandless magic to break the sink, straying her in water and she screamed thinking I had made good on my promise already. I then upped the temperature as she tried to turn the water off, hearing her cry out from the heat. I admit, I can be nasty, but don't say I didn't have a claim for my retribution, I stood back and watched her burn slightly from the hot water before she grabbed whatever towels clothes to stop the water. Not being finished I made the fridge fall forward, and she all but whimpered at the fright. Looking at me with murder in her eyes, I stared her back down, asking a simple question again. "What?"
I must have inherited the gift of annoyance from my Dad and Sirius, it worked so well. She could have lunged for me there and then had Dudley not come in, saw the mess, and saw how me and his mother were currently having a standoff. Dudley had gotten smarter at least, he knew not to start with me even with his mother after my warning. He simply picked up the fridge for his struggling mother as I stood there, a shit eating grin on my face as she broke the staring match. Dudley then walked back out the house, I guess staying out of the way for now till a winner was made. Unfortunately, he could have stayed, I had won as Petunia knew I was now not joking and would use magic, I then decided to start some of her special punishment. This wasn't even a prank, I hoped it would actually destroy some of her sanity. I willed my intentions into my magic, my core shaping it into the hex I wanted and sent it her way. It hit her and she stumbled back, glaring at me when she straightened asking, "What was that you just did?" I knew she could already feel it, but replied with a confused, "Did what Aunty? Remember to talk to Dudley and Vernon, I'll play nice enough if you do." I said leaving the room to go back upstairs, not even bothering to grab the food I was originally going to get. I felt Petunia staring at my back but felt her jump as my magic picked back up on the hex being on her. It was a nice nasty piece of work, made to make her never have some peace as she heard the voices of the dead; my father, mother and her parents were going to be torturing her until I released her. She would hear them say how horrible she was and how they hated the sight of her because she hurt me, all throughout the day, the night though would be worse and I knew she would want to stay up soon enough, dreading to fall asleep. They would be visiting her, a simple illusion of a ghost in a nightmare I had trapped her in, lets she how she suffers. I then turned my attention to Vernon and Dudley when they came back in from the day.
I walked back upstairs and closed the door, before calling out, "Dobby!" A loud pop indicated he had arrived as I saw the short little house elf, dressed in some weird clothes, a hat and three socks on. Before he could start his usual, 'Master Harry Potter, Harry Potter,' continuance I asked him if he was still free likewise with Winky and saw him faulter in his enthusiasm. He told me how the female house elf wasn't doing great and would properly need looking after soon unless she dies or gain a new House to serve. "I'm not going to let that happen, now am I?" I told him clearly with what I decided to call my Lord voice.
"Well dobby, I refuse to let her die so I guess she must now work for my House like you if you want?" The house elf shook in happiness before shedding his clothes, apart from the underlays, thank Magic itself. I stopped him and told him, he could still wear clothes or would be given a respectable uniform to wear, as well as receive payment of 5 sickles a week, including the other elves I may employ soon enough. The elf nearly melted on the floor, as he clutched his ears and wept in what I hope was joy.
"Master Harry Potter, the best wizard an elf could have, so kind and nice to the elves. Winky and me serve better than other elves, yes, we do. Not let other elves take you from us, I get Winky master." He said popping off. A few minutes later, longer than I expected since I went back to my books, another pop came into the room with two elves I recognised this time. Winky, the poor elf looked as weak as a baby rabbit, holding onto Dobby to try and stand straight as I looked at her. I jumped up, scaring her a little before slowly moving forward telling her it was alright, I would never inflict any harmful punishment to them ever. She stood still and I soon had her by the hand and lifted her gently onto the bed, both of them wide eyed at my actions not even considering I could do this simple thing as a kindness.
I asked Winky how she would get better or if I needed some potions or even a healer to help her, she shook her head and said she needed a House to bond to, but a potion could help some damage. I asked her if she wanted to serve me and my houses, and she grasped my hand hard as she said yes, determined now the offer was given. I told her of my two ancient houses and lordship and was glad she didn't wet herself as I thought Dobby might have as he popped out and in again. I wasn't sure if they liked the fact, I was such nobility in the wizarding world or just shocked and happy to have a caring house and Lord to serve. I asked them how to bond with them to make them part of House Potter. They said I needed to over them an oath for them to accept.
"Do you Dobby and Winky, agree to serve faithfully and to the best of you own abilities, the Most Noble and Ancient House of Potter and Black, with me as your Lord and any possible descendants I have, for the rest of your natural life or release of service?" I stated, letting my magic reign out and control my speech as it came naturally.
They didn't even blink before accepting, their sworn oaths given as they moved up and down in excitement, Winky even moved better but still with the weak look from before. They asked me what their first command was, I pointed them to the wonder of a trunk, explaining how I hoped they could decorate and make it liveable including food in the first one, and my mothers to be ready in case I wanted to train in there. Dobby set eagerly to the task, as would have Winky if I didn't pause her and order her to first recover before working again, she could have fainted and still kept the smile on her face, I told her to lie down on the bed till she had some strength to get some potions on my account. Dobby actually let out a weep at the treatment I was giving them.
Moving back down to sit in my chair, I went back to my books with the hopeful prayer that Hermione wouldn't lash into me like Romans did to Jesus. I doubted I would be lucky though and dived back into the notes of my family journals. Notes of Sirius and my Dad on the and their own Animagus' transformations, describing the process as a deep spiritual path to find the animal inside before drawing it out from the body. It went deeper like how the shifters' core would flare up and the animal instincts and behaviours became shown throughout the stages. It was a lot of work including exercise, spell work, potions and a lot of meditating, a step I was already in the process off. Them I read about my mam and her different charm work, increasing the efficiency of some spells with a better incantation or movement like it was changed and forgotten through time. Or she just reinvented the charm. She really had some good stuff in here that could affect the whole wizarding population in their charm work. Maybe one day I would publish her work, immortalising her as the bright witch she was. Further on, I skimmed over the many pranks my Dads' had played on each other, growing up as they became intense over periods and nearly non-existent in others. It showed how their relationship developed and adjusted to different events in their time, some being hilarious and some being a touch dangerous, I bet I could pull a few moves on even the Weasley Twins with this.
Finishing some of the works, I heard a pop from the bed as Winky went to get some potions. I looked over the trunk as Dobby hadn't appeared in what I thought at least three hours. I started some of the other books from my mam of the different subjects, healing and warding first. That reminded me, as I heard Winky pop back, arms heavy of potions. I grabbed a few and told her to drink one and watched a bit colour come back to her body. I then told her if she needed to use magic at any time such as a to help during her duties like this or me or her was in danger, since I knew that was why she didn't with the potions originally. She smiled and I continued asking her if house elf wards could be placed on the trunks as well, keyed in with my elves only of course, she responded with a click of her fingers as her magic stretched out over the trunk and said, 'Done milord.'
Dobby then popped out of the air, saying he was done, and the wards were up as he could feel them, I told them I would like elf wards if wherever we go was my own property to add them too, and if they were to try and strengthen them. I wasn't going to forget my bases like some other powerful people would in their arrogance. I asked if food was available in the trunk and Dobby replied, "Yes Master, Dobby will start dinner now." I told him before he and Winky would be eating with me, the stunned elf looked like the freezing charm had hit him, but I wasn't going to make them ever wait to eat I told them, "I want you healthy and strong, you know." I told them.
Hedwig then came in from the window, from a finished hunt, I guessed. She landed and hooted looking at the two elves. I'm sure I heard another voice in the room as she looked at them before looking at me.
"Who are these in our room?" I could have sworn said right in my ear, my brain registered it. I looked at Hedwig in awe, thinking what could have happened to make a change like this. Then it clicked, gods I had some dumb moments, as I realised my beast speech was clearly working now, this must have been Hedwig speaking. I knew I heard voices the other times, I can't believe it took me so long to realise this, I could have spoken to her for days now!
"Took you long enough?" I heard again the voice, dripping in sarcasm, my beautiful owl spoke in my mind. 'Wait did she hear my thoughts?' I asked myself before being hit with screech that distinctly sounded like duh, to me. 'Awesome,' I thought, buzzing with the fact my closest friend could now speak with me.
"Don't get so mushy on me now Harry I've been waiting years for you to do this, now again who are these?" Hedwig eyed the elves again, who were watching me and Hedwig with a awed expression, I told her they were my house elves now and she replied with the obvious, "I leave for two hours for a hunt and he gets elves," Her voice laced with humour. My owl was amazing. Again, I heard her hoot a simple, 'Clearly,' and I thought how I would have to watch bigging her ego up even in my thoughts. She gazed at me with her amber eyes at that, furiously as if I better not forget to give her compliments.
"Lord has a familiar, what powerful magic he has, she can hear most his thoughts if he directs them. The bond is fresh, yes master Potter has, he will learn to control it soon, as she already has me thinks." Dobby informed me a bit information, I was ecstatic that Hedwig is my familiar, I just wondered what the egg in the trunk was to me then. I then walked over to her to give her a stroke originally before I watched in horror as she started flaming in a blaze in the cage. Running over at the now ashy remains of my familiar I thought I was cursed or something, before a small head peeked up from the ashes and I did a double take. Blink included. What was now in front of me, was a small frosty white little feathered phoenix I believed. My Hedwig had burst into fire and become a phoenix. I gently stroked the baby bird as she gazed at me and I tried to hold in a laugh which I knew she would never have forgiven, before sitting down on my bed and starting in shock at the cage still. Even my elves were looking as if they had never seen this happen before, they probably had no protocol to follow here and didn't know what to do.
After a while I realised everything was good, looking up at Hedwig, "Thanks for the warning at least girl, nearly lost a few heart beats there." I said, finding some humour in the situation, the elves came out of their daze and asked if I wanted dinner here or in the trunk. Thinking how I could read and learn under the time rune, I said the trunk and told them to take Hedwig inside, I wasn't going to leave her vulnerable in her new state specially to go in the trunk without her. She gave the cutest little hoot instead of the normal trill I would have expected from Fawkes, the only other phoenix I knew. We went inside the trunk and I asked one of them to keep an eye out for any mail, since we weren't really coming out for a few days, outside of the trunk. Maybe a week or two inside the trunk and I could learn from the library I had in my mams' trunk.
After finishing a lovely dinner, I hadn't had since leaving Hogwarts, I cracked open another book and realised just how much Hermione wears off on me. I won't bore you with the full details, but healing and warding were becoming much more natural to me. I soon erected my first decent ward on the insides of the chest adding to them with the detailed improved versions from my mother's notes. Bless that wonderful witch. The wards strengthened than the ones I had bought the trunk with including the elf wards, I planned to soon ask the goblins for their price to ward it and my other properties. I don't think other wizards had the chance or respect to get it until now. Further on I started meditating to build my Occlumency barriers and saw how the mindscape had increased its size and defences, helping me take a step down the animagus transformation. I needed strong mind magic to control the animal once it was unleashed or lose control to it until it relented.
Studying some spell-making tomes, learned how a few spells could be combined for different or better results and how new ones could be formed and incanted to bind the magic to the words and actions of the wand. The process I guess my mother must have studied to alter the many kinds of spells she had, maybe some rune work too. After a few tries I had created a basic invisibility spell for unmoving items, and with some work I managed the complex stages of the spell building to make the invisible item, bound under my will letting it become visible and invisible at my will. I even hopped out to try it and found it worked, my mind buzzed with the knowledge I had created my own spell.
After a nearly two weeks inside the trunk, with nearly a day and a half on the outside passing, I was ready to come back out. Though not spending long in there, I had read quite a lot of books by now and even trained with physical exercise and magical ones to stretch my body and core. By now I had gained a few lean muscles and weight both from the potions of the goblins and the food from my elves. I never had felt so better. I could have spent more time in there, learning combos and other types of runes me or my mam had created, or the pranks I was planning for the Dursleys', before I left of course, but I desperately wanted to see the sun again now. Leaving the confines of the trunk, it felt like exiting the tent I had shared with the Weasleys' at the Quidditch World Cup, exiting like you popped back into existence with the rules of physics applying.
Pretty much looking totally different as I was before, wearing my blue jumper and jeans, my body looking healthy instead of dainty and my face defined and chiselled. 'I look fine,' I complemented myself, damn there goes the ego inflation from Hedwig I might have caught, in the two weeks in a trunk with her. Speaking of which, she had changed rapidly during the weeks as well, from once a snowy owl to a bight white phoenix, with her feather tails glistening in the light. She wouldn't or couldn't stop admiring herself, I could understand of course, seeing how stunning she was yet I also shared a bond with her, and heard her constant drooling about it soon changed my focus into blocking the bond when I wanted too. After two long weeks inside, flying small spaces and just stretching her wings out mostly, she was desperate to get out and enjoy the first real fly.
After she left, I stood in front of my mirror, attempting my metamorphic skills to change my appearance back to what it was, just taller as if I hit a growth spurt. I used my own spell for invisibility on the trunk and watched it fade as I wanted too. Not a moment to soon as my number two on my list of revenge cracked in, for a cup of tea maybe? Yes, Dumbledore himself had graced me with his presence. I instantly fired up my mind arts magic to keep my emotions in check and acted like I was unaware of his manipulation of me. I forced a natural smile on my face as Dumbledore looked at my new height, before looking at the rest of me and seeing the damaged body he looked a bit pleased. 'Maybe thinking if I was still under the blocks and compulsions,' I thought, time to act like a good willing light pawn he wanted from me.
"Sir? What are you doing here? Was there an attack? Do you need my help?" I fired off, frantically, damn I'm sure that bit alone should earn me a nomination for an Oscar, oh what I thought I had. If only I could get those damn runes to work for muggle technology, this act alone would rake in some galleons, never mind the drama I planned for the will reading.
Dumbledore smiled at my frantic state, believing all was well with me in his eyes and told me, "No Harry, there was no attack, but I do need your help, if you are willing?" Holding out his arm to me, knowing I had no choice, as he would figure out something if I tried to get out it, I latched on experiencing the horrible tug on side-along apparition. When we arrived, I stumbled as I normally would, and swallowed the bile in my throat, it wasn't a pleasant journey.
Seeing a house with the door kicked in, Dumbledore paused and drew his wand and motioned for me to do the same, the old holly and phoenix feather feeling a bit weird in my hand after so long. Dumbledore stood before entering the property telling me about an old professor, he hoped would re-join the staff at Hogwarts this year, Professor Horace Slughorn. I followed along with him, entering the house, and seeing the devastation. The whole place was a mess, but I didn't really care, I was busy thinking how he wanted me in this situation. Clearly, I was supposed to be used or to be shown something to make me need Dumbledore more than I should have already. I didn't have to wait long after some dragons' blood fell on my head and Dumbledore tasted it to identify it. As he turned his back, I summoned a vial and a cleaning spell to gather it up for use later. I remembered how many properties dragon blood held and could be used for. For now, I watched as Dumbledore poked a perfectly intact armchair amid all the destruction in the room, and a shout consisting of, "Merlin's Beard!" was exclaimed.
Soon after it became clear, this was Professor Slughorn, as I was supposed to get to know him as. I figured out Albus' game from this, the professor had a possessive gleam in his eye, and seeing his cupboard filled with rich or famous people, he wanted to add me into his social ring and display me. 'No thanks to that,' I wanted to tell him straight, of course leaving my mouth shut I remained a little pawn offered to Slughorn to take if he came back to Hogwarts. As I predicted, the man broke within 15 seconds as we walked back out the door, agreeing to return. I had to admit, Dumbledore knew how to get to people. It was quite dark if you think on it. He returned me to my room and sat down on a chair speaking in his brooding voice. "The summer is soon over Harry, I believe you are safe in the wards still, but if you want to get away, I can take you to the Weasley's right now?" He offered, I smiled at him but slowly shaking my head I watched a frown grow on his face. My orb charm growing slightly cold, I put my mental shields up and felt him probe them to see how strong they were. I could have grinned when he frowned a little deeper, as I know he couldn't enter my mind without clearly alerting me. He was stuck outside now unless he didn't care if I knew he went inside my mind, hoping it wasn't the case for while until the shields were stronger, I explained to him, "I would love to go to the Weasleys' sir, but I don't want to put them in danger sir, I can't get over Sirius and the thought of the Weasleys' being hurt makes me feel worse sir. I hope they don't mind if I stay here until the school year?" I asked, forcing myself not to choke on the words and say them in such a laid on plead, I'm surprised the headmaster didn't notice. He seemed even more pleased as the frown disappeared.
"Of course, Harry my boy, I understand. I'll tell them you're still a little shocked and want some more time to recover. The wards will protect you till you come to Hogwarts, my boy as long as you stay in them." He happily announced before crackling away, not even a bye or thanks for coming with me afterthought. I opened the window for Hedwig and went to sleep for a new day after having Winky store the dragon blood away.
Dumbledore POV:
I apparated away and away and smiled as I landed in front of the Burrow. Harry was as malleable as ever, perhaps a bit taller than I expected but without any form of independence. I strolled into the garden of the Burrow as Molly came fourth to greet me.
"Professor Dumbledore welcome, where's Harry? I thought you were bringing him?" She asked me politely, as she should. I replied back, "It seems young Harry, does not wish to put you and your family at harm Molly, he asked to stay because he feels guilty enough without possible harm coming to you after Sirius's death." I looked at her with the twinkle in my eye I always try to have and saw as she visible relaxed.
"Thank god, bad enough I have to pretend to care, but to have to watch as my daughter throws herself at him to make sure he chooses her to leave that fortune too. At least for a while longer I can have some peace of mind, without him here. Are you sure he's still under the bindings and beliefs Professor?" She asked me, making sure the plans were still going ahead as they should be.
"Yes," I began, pausing for tension, "He still believes and trusts me, the bindings and blocks are in place or he would have demanded to know what I had done to him, the second I arrived. I've made sure already he wouldn't be attending the will reading, making me be able to claim it for him. He shouldn't have a clue with the anti-mail wards I set up delaying Gringotts if they attempt to intervene." I smiled, happy with the work of today getting Slughorn back on the staff and Harry licking up every word I fed him. Molly looked pleased and offered a goodbye as I turned to leave, she went inside, and I went back to Hogwarts.
